Cost Manager

Actalent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 80 hours

8 holidays

401k

Medical

Dental

Vision

Udemy access after 6 months

Abenity discount program

360-degree review

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to lead cost control, change orders, and financial governance for large casino, gaming, hospitality, and entertainment construction projects in the Chicago area. You will partner with owners, executives, design teams, and contractors to ensure accurate cost reporting, forecasting, and risk mitigation across multi-phase initiatives.

Qualifications include 5+ years in cost management with MRICS/AssocRICS or CCP/CEP credentials and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of cost management and quantity surveying experience.
• Experience handling change orders, cost control, and forecasting.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts and commercial risk.
• Experience with casino, gaming, hospitality, or large-scale projects is a plus.
• Ability to mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review, negotiation, and resolution of contractor and subcontractor change orders.
• Evaluate change order requests for scope validity, pricing accuracy, schedule impact, and contractual entitlement.
• Develop independent change order estimates and cost analyses.
• Track Potential Change Orders (PCOs), CORs, and executed change orders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with project teams to assess financial impacts of design revisions, owner-directed changes, unforeseen conditions, and schedule disruptions.
• Identify potential claims, risks, and cost recovery opportunities while minimizing project exposure.
• Maintain comprehensive change logs and provide executive-level reporting on pending and approved changes.
• Support dispute avoidance, negotiations, and commercial resolution strategies.
• Establish and maintain project budgets, forecasts, cost reports, and cost baselines.
• Monitor project expenditures and commitments against approved budgets.
• Analyze cost performance and identify emerging budget risks.
• Lead monthly forecasting exercises, variance analysis, and contingency tracking.
• Support funding approvals and budget authorization processes.
• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, and detailed construction cost estimates.
• Review contractor estimates and validate pricing assumptions.
• Perform benchmarking and market pricing analysis.
• Support value engineering and cost optimization initiatives.
• Evaluate cost impacts associated with phasing, occupied construction, gaming floor renovations, hospitality upgrades, and facility expansions.
• Support contract administration activities throughout design and construction.
• Interpret contract documents, specifications, and commercial requirements.
• Review payment applications, contractor invoices, and commercial compliance documentation.
• Assist with procurement strategy, bid evaluations, contractor selection, and commercial negotiations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to owners and project leadership teams.
• Build strong working relationships with contractors, consultants, designers, and operational stakeholders.
• Facilitate commercial discussions between project teams and construction partners.
• Provide strategic guidance related to project costs, risks, and commercial performance.
• Mentor junior cost managers, estimators, and quantity surveyors.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Estimating

Project controls

Construction contracts

Education

MRICS/AssocRICS/CCP/CEP/CPE/PSP

Tools

Cost management software

Estimating software

Project controls software

Job description

Job Title: Cost Manager

Job Description

A dynamic and leading project controls and construction consulting firm seeks a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support large-scale casino, gaming, hospitality, and entertainment construction projects. The successful candidate will serve as a key commercial leader throughout the project lifecycle, partnering closely with owners, project executives, design teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure financial accountability and successful project delivery. This role emphasizes change order management, cost control, contract administration, commercial negotiations, claims mitigation, and forecasting across active casino construction and renovation projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review, negotiation, and resolution of contractor and subcontractor change orders.

• Evaluate change order requests for scope validity, pricing accuracy, schedule impact, and contractual entitlement.

• Develop independent change order estimates and cost analyses.

• Track Potential Change Orders (PCOs), Change Order Requests (CORs), and executed change orders throughout the project lifecycle.

• Collaborate with project teams to assess financial impacts of design revisions, owner-directed changes, unforeseen conditions, and schedule disruptions.

• Identify potential claims, risks, and cost recovery opportunities while minimizing project exposure.

• Maintain comprehensive change logs and provide executive-level reporting on pending and approved changes.

• Support dispute avoidance, negotiations, and commercial resolution strategies.

• Establish and maintain project budgets, forecasts, cost reports, and cost baselines.

• Monitor project expenditures and commitments against approved budgets.

• Analyze cost performance and identify emerging budget risks.

• Lead monthly forecasting exercises, variance analysis, and contingency tracking.

• Support funding approvals and budget authorization processes.

• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, and detailed construction cost estimates.

• Review contractor estimates and validate pricing assumptions.

• Perform benchmarking and market pricing analysis.

• Support value engineering and cost optimization initiatives.

• Evaluate cost impacts associated with phasing, occupied construction, gaming floor renovations, hospitality upgrades, and facility expansions.

• Support contract administration activities throughout design and construction.

• Interpret contract documents, specifications, and commercial requirements.

• Review payment applications, contractor invoices, and commercial compliance documentation.

• Assist with procurement strategy, bid evaluations, contractor selection, and commercial negotiations.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to owners and project leadership teams.

• Build strong working relationships with contractors, consultants, designers, and operational stakeholders.

• Facilitate commercial discussions between project teams and construction partners.

• Provide strategic guidance related to project costs, risks, and commercial performance.

• Mentor junior cost managers, estimators, and quantity surveyors.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, estimating, project controls, or construction commercial experience managing and evaluating construction change orders.

• Thorough understanding of construction contracts, project financial controls, and cost management practices.

• Experience supporting projects through multiple phases of design and construction.

• Ability to assess schedule impacts, contract risks, and cost implications associated with project changes.

• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Experience working directly with owners, contractors, and project stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced construction environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting casino, gaming, hospitality, resort, entertainment, or large-scale commercial construction projects.

• Experience with occupied renovations, phased construction, and operational facility upgrades.

• Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, PSP, or similar.

• Knowledge of construction claims analysis, contract administration, and risk management.

• Experience in owner's representative, construction consulting, or project controls environments.

• Proficiency with cost management, estimating, and project controls software.

• Background supporting projects ranging from casino floor expansions and hotel renovations to resort developments and large entertainment venues.

Work Environment

This position is based on-site at the end client. The work environment promotes work-life balance with salaried positions ensuring 40-hour work weeks. Employees are entitled to 80 hours of PTO, 8 holidays, and have access to benefits such as 401k, medical, dental, and vision coverage. Additionally, ongoing education is available through platforms like Udemy after 6 months, along with participation in an Abenity discount program and a 360-degree review program. This opportunity offers the chance to work on multiple long-term projects throughout the greater Chicago area.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $72.11 - $88.94/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.